Pile axle

ABSTRACT

A center spindle for a record-changing phonograph which comprises a sleeve having a plurality of axially directed slots disposed in two groups at different heights, and primary control means are provided in the sleeve and operable by an axial movement thereof. A plurality of primary record-supporting members are each placed in one of the slots of the upper of the groups and coupled with the primary control means such, that the primary record-supporting members are movable into a position outside of the outer periphery of the sleeve by the axial movement. Secondary control means are arranged in the sleeve and operable by an axial movement thereof. A plurality of secondary record-supporting members comprises obliquely upwardly arranged stays and each is placed in one of the slots of the lower of the groups; the upper end of the secondary record-supporting members, corresponding with about the thickness of one record. The secondary record-supporting members are rotatably connected with the secondary control means in an axial plane of the center spindle, and a control edge fixed on the sleeve swings back the secondary record-supporting members from one rotary position outside of the outer periphery of the sleeve into the sleeve by the axial movement. Spring means retain resiliently the secondary supporting members in a primary, median rotary position supporting the records such, that the weight of at least one record exerted upon the secondary record-supporting members swings the latter against the force of the spring means into a secondary rotary position of greater spread. An abutment means is provided on the sleeve within the range of the axial movement of at least one of the secondary record-supporting members. At least one of the secondary record-supporting members has an extension at its lower end such, that it moves during an axial downward movement of this one of the secondary record-supporting members towards the abutment means, thereby locking a further movement of the secondary control means, when the secondary record-supporting members are disposed in their primary, median rotary position, and the secondary record-supporting members pass freely the abutment means, upon moving into their secondary rotary position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor llelmut Lauier St. Georgen, Black Forest, Germany [21] Appl. No. 802,007 [22] Filed Feb. 25, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [73] Assignee Dual Gebruder Steidinger St. Georgen, Black Forest, Germany [32] Priority Feb. 29, 1968 [33] Germany [31] P16 22054.5

[54] PILE AXLE 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl. 274/105 [51] 1nt.Cl ...G1lb 117/08 [50] Field of Search 274/10 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,981,953 4/1961 Hansen 274/108 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,128,166 4/1962 Germany.... 274/105 1,196,965 7/1965 Germany 274/ 10 5 Primary Examinerl-larry N. l-laroian Attorney- Ernest G. Montague ABSTRACT: A center spindle for a record-changing phonograph which comprises a sleeve having a plurality of axially directed slots disposed in two groups at different heights, and primary control means are provided in the sleeve and operable by an axial movement thereof. A plurality of primary recordsupporting members are each placed in one of the slots of the upper of the groups and coupled with the primary control means such, that the primary record-supporting members are movable into a position outside of the outer periphery of the sleeve by the axial movement. Secondary control means are arranged in the sleeve and operable by an axial movement thereof. A plurality of secondary record-supporting members comprises obliquely upwardly arranged stays and each is placed in one of the slots of the lower of the groups; the upper end of the secondary record-supporting members, corresponding with about the thickness of one record. The secondary record-supporting members are rotatably connected with the secondary control means in an axial plane of the center spindle, and a control edge fixed on the sleeve swings back the secondary record-supporting members from one rotary position outside of the outer periphery of the sleeve into the sleeve by the axial movement. Spring means retain resiliently the secondary supporting members in a primary, median rotary position supporting the records such, that the weight of at least one record exerted upon the secondary record-supporting members swings the latter against the force of the spring means into a secondary rotary position of greater spread. An abutment means is provided on the sleeve within the range of the axial movement of at least one of the secondary recordsupporting members. At least one of the secondary recordsupporting members has an extension at its lower end such, that it moves during an axial downward movement of this one of the secondary record-supporting members towards the abutment means, thereby locking a further movement of the secondary control means, when the secondary record-supporting members are disposed in their primary, median rotary position, and the secondary record-supporting members pass freely the abutment means, upon moving into their secondary rotary position.

PATENTED SEP 7 ISII sum 1 0F 2 H I l ANVENIUR W icy/in.

PlllLlE AXLE The present invention relates to a center spindle usable for a record player or record-changing phonograph in general, and which has holding and supporting elements spreadable out of the spindle, whereby the holding and supporting elements comprise upwardly directed longitudinally displaceable stays, which are retained in their spreaded position by means of a spring force and are operated alternately next to the supporting elements by an axially displaceable rod, which is operated by the record changer. The rod in turn cooperates with a shutoff device of the apparatus and is locked against its displacement movement by a member, which is retained by the records disposed in the storage staple of the throwout axles in an operative position.

In order to permit switching off automatically the record changer upon throwoff of the last record, in a known solution, the operating rod of the center spindle is locked by means of a separate sensing member sensing the rod bore, as soon as the sensing member moves into an empty space. The provision of such sensing member is, however, practically possible only in connection with axles of 38 mm. and not with such of 7-mm. diameter. i

In another known center spindle, the sensing of the bore wall of the record is provided directly by the clamping elements of the center spindle. If no record is present, the clamping elements perform an additional axial stroke, which operates the switchoff apparatus. This lifting stroke must be started by means of a particular member in addition to the control rod through the axis downwardly, which requires, first of all, a complicated production of the throwoff axles.

In a still further known center spindle, the operating rod is divided within the center spindle, whereby by a relative displacement of the two parts, a locking device becomes effective, which locks the working stroke of the part of the operating rod disposed on the driving side. Such displacement occurs, if no record weight is effective any more on the supporting members connected with the operating rod.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a center spindle, wherein the throwoff axle is designed very simply such, that relative to the latter, which does not provide the possibility of the operation of a switchoff device, no additional parts are required.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a center spindle, wherein due to the influence of the spreaded position of the supporting members caused by the spring force, the supporting members are retained in front of an abutment disposed in the center spindle, which abutment locks its longitudinal displacement downwardly, and wherein the spreaded position and the size of the spring force are dimensioned such, that by the engagement force of a single record resting on the supporting members, the latter are pushable into the spreaded position in which they are outside of the operating range of the previously mentioned abutment.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention, which is shown by example only, will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial section of a center spindle in one operating position, a portion being cut away for clearer demonstration; and

FIG. 2 is an axial section of the center spindle disclosed in FIG. 1, however, in a different operating position.

Referring now to the drawings, the center spindle comprises an outer sleeve l which is secured in the baseplate of the record changer. In the sleeve l is displaceably mounted a rod 3. It has at its upper end three grooves 43, in each of which a secondary record supporting member 5 is guided, which supporting element 5 projects outwardly through slots 6 in the sleeve l, which slots 6 are disposed in two groups at different heights. In the upper part of the center spindle is disposed an axially displaceable holding member 7 for three holding elements h arranged set off relative to each other in relation to the secondary record-supporting members 5.

The holding part 7 is pushed downwardly by means of a spring 9, whereby the primary record-supporting members 8 engaging with their lower end on an inclined face it) of the sleeve 1 are pushed outwardly, the holding part '7, the spring 9 and the face Ml constituting a primary control means. The rod 3 is coupled by means of a drive lever ill with the changing means and with the switchoff device, which are not shown. The upper end of the secondary record-supporting members 5 are disposed at a distance below the lower end of the primary record-supporting members 8 corresponding with about the thickness of one record.

FIG. 1 shows the throwofi axle in its inoperative or resting position. Here, the rod 3 is disposed in an upper position against the effect of the spring 9, which pushes downwardly by means of the holding member 7. The storage staple or stacks of records 12 supports itself on the supporting members 5, by supporting the latter with their part disposed in the spindle, on the one hand, on the inner wall of the sleeve 1 and, on the other hand, in the grooves d of the rod 3. If the driving lever llll is lowered, the supporting members 8 are pushed by the following holding member 7 along the inclined face 10 outwardly against the bore wall of the record 12 being the second lowest in the staple and hold tight the remaining staple of records. During further downward movements of the rod 3, an inclined edge 113 of the supporting members 5 runs onto the lower or control edge 14 of the sleeve slots 6, whereby the supporting members 5 are withdrawn by rotation about the point 15 into the sleeve l, which causes the release of the lowermost record 112. During upward movement of the rod 3, the supporting members 5 move in reversed manner again outwardly, however, at first not yet into the starting position, rather only so far, until the edge 16 of the supporting members 5 stands vertical and engages in its entire length a cylindrical projection 17 of the rod 3, respectively, which is brought about by spring means, tag, a resilient wire ring lb. if no record is now disposed any more on the staple storage, the supporting member 5 is taken downwardly again in this swinging position by the rod 3 and runs thereby with an extension 1? at its lower end against an inward abutment 20, provided in the sleeve ll, within the range of the axial movement of at least one of the supporting members, whereby the normal path of the rod 3 is locked, which, in known, but not shown, manner, leads to the switching off of the record changer. The spring means 318 resiliently returns the secondary record supporting members 5 in a primary, median rotary position supporting the records M such that the weight. of at least one record exerts upon the secondary record-supporting members 5 swings the latter against the force of the spring into a secondary rotary position of greater spread.

The rod 3 and the drive lever ll constitute a secondary control means.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

it. A center spindle for a record-changing phonograph, comprising a sleeve having a plurality of axially directed slots disposed in two groups at different heights,

primary control means provided in said sleeve and operable by an axial movement thereof,

a plurality of primary record-supporting members, each placed in one of said slots of an upper of said groups and coupled with said primary control means such, that said primary record-supporting members are movable into a position outside of the outer periphery of said sleeve by axial movement,

secondary control means in said. sleeve and operable by an axial movement thereof,

a plurality of secondary record-supporting members comprising obliquely upwardly arranged stays and each placed in one of said slots of the lower of said groups,

the upper end of said secondary record-supporting members being disposed at a distance, below the lower end of said primary record-supporting members, corresponding with about the thickness of one record,

said secondary record-supporting members being rotatably connected with said secondary control means in an axial plane of said center spindle,

a control edge fixed on said sleeve, swinging back said secondary record-supporting members from one rotary position outside of the outer periphery of said sleeve into said sleeve by said axial movement,

spring means resiliently retaining said secondary supporting members in a primary, median rotary position supporting said records, such that the weight of at least one record exerted upon said secondary record-supporting members swings the latter against the force of said spring means into a secondary rotary position of greater spread,

an abutment means provided on said sleeve within the range of the axial movement of at least one of said secondary record-supporting members, and

said at least one of said secondary record-supporting members having an extension at its lower end such, that it moves during an axial downward movement of said one of said secondary record-supporting members towards said abutment means, thereby stopping the normal axial movement of said at least one secondary record-supporting member and locking a further movement of said secondary control means, when said secondary recordsupporting members are disposed in said primary, median rotary position, and said at least one of said secondary record-supporting members pass freely said abutment means, upon moving into said secondary rotary position.

2. The center spindle, as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary control means includes spring means engaging said sleeve, at one end, in order to retain said primary control means in its lower position.

3. The center spindle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secondary control means is axially displaceable in said sleeve below said primary control means.

4. The center spindle, as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary control means and said secondary control means are disposed at such distance relative to each other, that upon lifting said secondary control means from its lower position said secondary record-supporting members swing at first outwardly from the periphery of said sleeve, to join thereafter, during the remaining upward movement of said secondary control means, said primary control means. 

1. A center spindle for a record-changing phonograph, comprising a sleeve having a plurality of axially directed slots disposed in two groups at different heights, primary control means provided in said sleeve and operable by an axial movement thereof, a plurality of primary record-supporting members, each placed in one of said slots of an upper of said groups and coupled with said primary control means such, that said primary recordsupporting members are movable into a position outside of the outer periphery of said sleeve by axial movement, secondary control means in said sleeve and operable by an axial movement thereof, a plurality of secondary record-supporting members comprising obliquely upwardly arranged stays and each placed in one of said slots of the lower of said groups, the upper end of said secondary record-supporting members being disposed at a distance, below the lower end of said primary record-supporting members, corresponding with about the thickness of one record, said secondary record-supporting members being rotatably connected with said secondary control means in an axial plane of said center spindle, a control edge fixed on said sleeve, swinging back said secondary record-supporting members from one rotary position outside of the outer periphery of said sleeve into said sleeve by said axial movement, spring means resiliently retaining said secondary supporting members in a primary, median rotary position supporting said records, such that the weight of at least one record exerted upon said secondary record-supporting members swings the latter against the force of said spring means into a secondary rotary position of greater spread, an abutment means provided on said sleeve within the range of the axial movement of at least one of said secondary recordsupporting members, and said at least one of said secondary record-supporting members having an extension at its lower end such, that it moves duRing an axial downward movement of said one of said secondary record-supporting members towards said abutment means, thereby stopping the normal axial movement of said at least one secondary record-supporting member and locking a further movement of said secondary control means, when said secondary record-supporting members are disposed in said primary, median rotary position, and said at least one of said secondary record-supporting members pass freely said abutment means, upon moving into said secondary rotary position.
 2. The center spindle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said primary control means includes spring means engaging said sleeve, at one end, in order to retain said primary control means in its lower position.
 3. The center spindle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secondary control means is axially displaceable in said sleeve below said primary control means.
 4. The center spindle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said primary control means and said secondary control means are disposed at such distance relative to each other, that upon lifting said secondary control means from its lower position said secondary record-supporting members swing at first outwardly from the periphery of said sleeve, to join thereafter, during the remaining upward movement of said secondary control means, said primary control means. 